Well, an unexpectedly early pregnancy – and a quick one. Feline gestation is normally 63 days, Wenusia sprinted through it at a rapid pace and this morning delivered three black-and-white kittens. And she's very young; still a kitten really. When she adopted me five and half months ago, she was around ten weeks old. So a mum at around eight months. She'd not even shown signs of coming into heat (ruja) – the plaintive caterwauling associated with a desire to mate.
Wenusia, who has been visibly pregnant for around three weeks, spent last night outdoors and came in at half past eight this morning; she was not interested in her food, she was very clingy, wanting to be near me all the time, and was vocalising loudly. [Again, Gemini AI was very useful and accurate in telling me signs of an imminent arrival of kittens.]
I pointed Wenusia to her birthing box, which I'd prepared a few days ago. I'd accustomed her to the concept, letting her crawl in and out repeatedly. This time, she went in and stayed in. Shortly after ten am, she gave birth to the first kitten. I opened the box and found the cat alive and and a kitten also alive at the same time. Take that, Schrodinger! Then, a second arrived 45 minutes later, and the third half an hour after that.
Below: mum and three kittens doing well.
Life is miraculous. To witness three feline births, to see Wenusia realised in motherhood, purring contentedly two hours after delivering the first kitten, all three suckling away efficiently, is quite something. A wondrous experience. It's over 12 years since I last witnessed such an event. Outside, the sun is shining and the blackbirds are singing a joyful chorus. In my bedroom, I can hear the squeaking of new life.
UPDATE 14:45-15:00
In quick succession, out pop another two. Amniotic fluid, placentas (five eaten), blood, damp cardboard, wet, bedraggled fur and squeals. Mum and five kittens doing well (no sign of a runt in the litter).
UPDATE 19:00. Weighing in at between 80g (the last-born) and 103g (the first born).
UPDATE: 19:45. Nine hours after giving birth to the first kitten, and after eating five placentae, Wenusia leaves the birthing box to eat. She wolfs down an entire 85g tin of Purina Gourmet Gold tuna mousse bought for the occasion. While she's scoffing her meal, I snap the babies. All are well.
The future? That's not for now. Let's just be in the moment; relish the new life.
More soon.
This time four years ago:
Poppies in bloom, Jeziorki
This time 18 years ago:
The year nears its zenith
A wonderful experience
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